The bread of life was not only received by faith, but digested by meditation; and the blessings of promise were not only sought by prayer, but received with watchfulness, and acknowledged with thanksgivings. The objects, too, by which Lefevre was now surrounded, were calculated to accelerate and confirm the good work." All before him was grand and sublime. A shoreless ocean at his feet-an unbounded sky above his head. The one, sometimes effulgent with the heavenly luminaries; sometimes lowering with tempest, without a ray of light. The other, now throwing its bursting billows against the heavy clouds; now, under a calm sun, looking like a field of emeralds embossed in a bed of gold! But who shall describe all the varieties formed by the mighty waters and the glorious heavens!-Lefevre, reclaimed from low pursuits and at ease in his conscience, was at liberty to mark them all, as they were presented. Cut off from all objects of human labor, excepting when he turned his eye on the little plank which bore him, he almost forgot the works, and even the existence of man; and, when they were remembered, it was only to feel their utter insignificance. Nothing was great-nothing wonderful but God! He felt his presence in all. Sometimes wrapt in joy, he soared to his throne; sometimes covered with humility, he sunk prostrate at his feet; but always was he edified on his holy faith, as he perceived unutterable goodness sustained by illimitable power. Yet, after all, the chief improvement of Lefevre, during this voyage, must be attributed to the close and careful perusal of the Holy Scriptures. He had obtained the use of a bible from a soldier, which had been issued from the British and Foreign Bible Society. It was the only book he now possessed; and it was well he was limited to it for a season. Formerly, in his best days, like many young christians, he read it rather to increase his knowledge and form his creed, than to mould his character and direct his conduct; and, though it had a constant place on his table, the novelty and multiplicity of other books robbed it of the regard and submission its contents demanded. Now, however, it was raised in his hand, or laid by his side amongst the coiled ropes on which he frequently reclined, many hours of every day. He read and ruminated-examined and applied-till he was filled with astonishment and shame to find, that he was comparatively so ignorant of a volume, he had thought he so fully understood. He uniformly brought the whole word of God to bear on himself. By its precepts he sought to govern his own practice;-by its evidences of the christian state, he tried his own character;-and by its promises, he endeavoured to administer to himself support and consolation. Light increased as he proceeded; and his concern became deep and humiliating to find, with all his knowledge, what mistakes he had committed on some of the most material, but simple points in the spiritual life. He saw indeed, that he had often mistaken passion for principle; compliance with his own will, for obedience to the will of God; the gratification of vanity, for the exercise of benevolence; and things totally opposed to the spirit of religion, for things not only innocent but commendable. These discoveries of Lefevre were not, however, entirely painful in their influence. He felt that he no longer hid himself from the light of truth; but that he was honest, and willing to ascertain the worst. He trusted now in a might greater than his own; and he was prepared to confess his weakness. His heart was truly humbled; and, since he was unworthy, he sought to know it, that the grace of Christ might be magnified by him. His relish, too, for the heavenly manna,' grew in proportion as he fed upon it. As he studied the scriptures, he felt they possessed a purity, an authority, a celestial savour all their own; no other volume ever spoke as they spake. If he had regretted that he had no other book to relieve his attention, he learnt in the end to rejoice in it, as privileged to live on angels' food. How did the wonderful economy of salvation open upon his sight in its harmony and glory! He saw that VOL. II. |